Cheshire's Poet Laureate - Harry Owen
Harry Owen was appointed the first Cheshire Poet Laureate for 2003.
The reasons for creating a Cheshire Poet Laureate scheme were twofold: firstly, to provide an opportunity over successive years for local poets to have their profiles raised; and secondly, to use the appointed poet to assist in raising the profile of poetry generally across the county. This was to be achieved by making appointments on an annual basis; by creating a core set of commissions relating to key events in the Cheshire calendar; and by instigating further commissions, workshops and appearances with a wide range of community groups, organisations and council services throughout Cheshire.
Publicity for the scheme was launched on National Poetry Day on 10 October 2002, with a deadline for submissions in the November. Chester Literature Festival agreed to accommodate an advert in their 2002 programme, together with an offer of a showcase event in the following October's Festival. Shortlisting and interviews were conducted by the Literature & Reading Development Officer, the Literature Officer at Arts Council England, North West, and the Chair of the Libraries & Culture Board.
Harry Owen was appointed the first Cheshire Poet Laureate with a twelve month term from January to December 2003, and was set the following core commissions:
- 1. Chairman's Civic Service at Chester Cathedral
- 2. Launch of the Cheshire Rural Trust
- 3. Cheshire Show at Tabley
- 4. Royal Horticultural Show at Tatton Park
- 5. Arts & Culture Event at Tatton
Other commissions and workshops that have so far been generated for the poet include:
- Cheshire Readers' Day (commission, workshops and readers' testimony)
- Cheshire's Rural Touring Network (commission, workshops and performance event)
- World Mental Health Day (workshops)
- Chester Literature Festival (workshop)
- Reading Maze (commission and workshops)
- Manchester Poetry Festival's Poetry Readers' Day (workshops)
- Cheshire-specific poems to be included in regional publicity for National Poetry Day
Although the scheme was originally set up as a literature development initiative, it has already had a significant impact on reading development. In particular Harry's involvement in the Cheshire Readers' Day, his forthcoming participation in the regional Poetry Readers' Day, and the events he is facilitating as part of the summer Reading Maze challenge for children.
Contact:Elizabeth Barron
Literature & Reading Development Officer
Email: barrone@cheshire.gov.uk
